John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I would welcome a debate on bullying which would be most useful. This is a serious problem that requires urgent attention. However, I hope we would approach it in a logical, reasonable and objective manner. Any other approach would be most unhelpful.

I also note that the European Parliament has given funding for embryonic stem cell research and I request a debate on this issue. Embryonic stem cells have a pluripotency by their very nature; in other words they must multiply and divide because of the baby's life cycle. Up to now, scientists have been unable to prevent this happening, and if they were able to do so, it would possibly cause other problems. It is beyond me how funding consistently goes to this research which is proving so unproductive.